Index or file



W. H. DAY

INDEX 0R FILE April 29, 1930.

Filed Feb. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1930'. H Y' 1,756,853

INDEX OR FILE Filed Feb. 1924 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 kyQ (91 13. $0 57"" .10.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 NT OFFICE WILLIAM H. DAY, OF EAST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'IO REMINGTON RAND INC., 015 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE INDEX OR FILE Application filed. February 5, 1924. Serial No. 690,755.

This invention relates to index devices of the class in which a series of index cards or reference members are arranged upon a carrying frame or in a drawer or similar supporting device in such a manner that a portion of each is exposed to view, one above the other, to facilitate ready reference thereto, the exposed portion being adapted to bear information regarding the nature of the data upon the remaining portion of the card.

More particularly the invention relates to a retainer designed for application to a refer ence member or card and adapted to removably support another card or the like there- It is often desirable in devices of this character that card-holders be provided with means whereby a card may be detachably mounted upon the same so that a margin of the card will be exposed to view when so mounted, and the holders are arranged in overlapped relation. Various card-holders have been provided for obtaining this result, some having transparent pockets along one 5 margin by which additional cards are supported and others having means such as clips at an upper margin for gripping the added card. This invention contemplates an improvement over card-holders of these types and provides a card-holder wherein index cards already in use in socalled box indexes, as well as cards not having been so used, may be mounted upon the card-holder in a simple and inexpensive manner without the disadvantage of causing a bulky thick edge at either margin of the holder, which is usually found in these types of holders due to the thickness of the overlapped materials forming the pockets or the like at the margins thereof.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to generally improve card-holders of this type so that the cards mounted thereon may be readily referred to, easily attached and detached therefrom.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a card or reference member holder, having means to retain a card thereon, which will be inexpensive, efficient in use and which decreases to a minimum the thickness of the combined holder and insert at the free edge thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide card-retaining means of such a form and construction that the same may be readily applied to a reference member of the hinged type, thereby adapting said member to removably retain another reference member or card upon the flap portion thereof in such a manner that the side edges and one marginal edge of both will coincide.

Other objects of this invention which are improvements in devices of this character will appear as the same is hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a supporting frame having a plurality of card-holders mounted thereon, which embody the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the holders;

Fig. l is a view looking in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig. 1, toward the corner of one of the holders;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view partly broken away of my improved holder with the inserted card removed;

Fig. 7 represents one form of staple adapted for use in connection with my improved card-holder Fig. 8 is a plan view of the lower portion of card-holder, having a card insert mounted thereon with which a somewhat difierent form of staple isused;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the holder shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a corner view looking in the direction of arrow 10, in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 represents the form of staple used with the card-holder shown in'Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a somewhat modified form of card-holder;

Fig. 14 is a rear view of the same cardholder shown in Fi 13 b 9 Fig. 15 is a side view of the card-holder shown in Figs. 18 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a corner view looking in the direction of arrow 16 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a section on line 17 17 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a card-holder in which still another form of staple is used;

Fig. 19 is a corner view in the direction of the arrow 19 in Fig. 18, and

Fig. 20 presents the staple used with the form of holder shown in Fig. 18.

A plurality of index reference members or card-holders 1O embodying the features of my invention, are shown in down-hanging or depending positon mounted upon a portion of a suitable support 11,in Fig. 1. These holders are arranged to overlap each other a predetermined amount so that aportion of each is exposed to view, as shown at 19. The support 11 may be a shallow drawer or may be a leaf or frame as illustrated and which is fully described in the patent to R. D. Hayes, No. 1,223,168, dated April 17, 1917. The cardholders 10 are illustrated as being composed of two portions 12 and 13, 12 being the base portion and 13 the flap portion. These portions are hingedly connected at 14 in any suitable manner, such as a weakened line, a connecting strip of flexible fabric, or as shown, by a series of spaced hinged members 15 formed by a series of perforations. The base portion 12 is provided with a pair of integral tongues 16 which en ages a retaining strip 17 mounted in or on the support 11. The construction and cooperation between the tongue 16 and the retainiin strip 17 is fully described in the patent to Irving Fisher, No. 1,048,056 dated December 24, 1912.

The flap portion 13 of the card-holder 10 may be provided with tongues 20 and 21 located closely adjacent the hinged joint 14. The tongues 20 and 21 are formed from the material of which the flap portion is composed and are integral therewith at 22. At each corner of the free edge of the flap portion 13, a card or reference member supporting means 23 is provided which is illustrated as being in the form of a wire staple which extends angularly across the corner. Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, illustrate holders 13 provided with one form of card-supporting means or staple 23, a detailed view of which before its application to the holder 13, is shown in Fig. 7. The staple ends 24 of this form are driven or pressed through the material of the flap portion 13 from the underside thereof and bent over the upper surface as at 25. Between the ends 24 the staple extends to and over the edge of the flap 13, as shown at 26, and angularly across the corner thereof as at 27. The resiliency of the material from which the staple 23 is formed causes the intermediate portion 27 to hug the surface of the adjacent portion of the flap 13 and clamps the corner of an inserted card between this portion and the adjacent corner of the flap. Because of extending to and over the edges of the flap 13 at each side of the corner portion thereof, the staple allows the superimposed card or insert 28 to be of the same width as the flap portion 13 and to extend to the free edge of the same. The side edges of the superimposed card or insert 28, therefore, will coincide with the side edges of the flap portion 13, and the bottom or marginal edge of the insert 28 will coincide with the free or marginal edge of the flap portion 13, thereby completely covering the lower portion of the flap.

In some instances, the clamping effect of the staple 23 upon the corner of the insert caused by the resiliency of the material from which the staple is made is suii'icient to hold the insert 28 firmly upon the flap portion 13, but in other instances it is desirable to use the tongues 20 and 21 for engaging the upper margin of the insert to insure that the same will be properly retained upon the holder. For this reason, the tongues 20 and 21 are located adjacent the hinge connection 14 as at 22, Figs. 1 and 3.

In Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, a similar reference member or card-holder 10 is shown provided with a somewhat modified form of staple 31. Fig. 12 represents the form of this staple before its application to the corners of the flap portion 13. The ends 32 of this form of staple are driven or pressed through the material at the corner of the flap from the upper surface thereof and are bent over the under surface as at 33. The side extensions 34 and base portion 35 lie upon the upper sur face of the flap portion and embrace a corner of the insert 28'. It is necessary, however, to extend the side extensions 34 of this form of staple beyond the edge of the flap 13, so that the corresponding edges of the insert and. the flap will coincide. hen staples of the form indicated at 31 are used, it is usually necessary to make use of the tongues 20 and 21, the staple in this case not providing sufficient clamping effect to retain the insert upon the flap portion when acting alone.

13 to 17, inclusive, represent a reference member holder 30 provided with means to retain an insert or additional card 28 on either or both front and rear surfaces of the flap portion 36. The flap portion in this instance, is provided with a centrally located tongue 37 in addition to tongues 38 and 39, which correspond to tongues 20 and 21, previously described. The holder 30 is shown as being provided with staples of the form shown at 31, but staples of the form shown at 23 may be advantageously used if desired.

Still another card holder is shown in Figs. 18 and 19, provided with another form of staple 40. Fig. 20 shows a detail view of the staple 40 before its application upon the corner of the flap portion 41. This staple is applied to the corner of the flap portion 41 by passing the ends 42 through the material of the flap portion from the upper surface thereof and then bending the ends downwardly against the under surface as shown in full lines in Fig. 19 and dotted lines in Fig. 20. Like the above forms the staples 40 are so located that the portion of the same at the bend 43 slightly overlaps the edges of the flap portion so that the corresponding edges of the card 28 will coincide therewith. The holder may be used as illustrated or may be adapted to receive two inserts by providing a pair of staples 40 upon both sides of the flap portion. Like the preceding forms, it is desirable that tongues similar to 20 and 21, or 37, 88 and 39 be provided and used when staples of the form shown at are provided, due to the lack of the clamping effect.

In all of the above described forms the reference member or card-holder 10 is capable of being used as a record-bearing member, either separately or when an insert is mounted thereon. It is, therefore, obvious that a reference member has been provided which is adapted for use as a recordbearing member and when provided with a readily applied insert or additional card-clamping and re t aining means, such as the staples above described, is also capable of supporting index cards upon either or both surfaces of the flap portion thereof, thereby being conveniently altered into a card or reference member holder. The advantages obtained in the use of the above described holder are largely due to the form of and the arrangement thereon of the staple or card insert retaining means, in combination with a reference member of the type illustrated, and in some instances with such a reference member wherein the integral tongues 20 and 21 or 37, 38 and 39 are provided.

WVhile I have illustrated and described some preferred forms of devices embodying my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details shown, as many modifications and variations thereof are possible which will lie within the spirit of the invention and the '1 scope of the appended claims.

hat I Claim is:

1. In an index or file, the combination of a series of reference members adapted to be secured upon a carrying frame in overlapped i relation, with the margin of each exposed to view, each of said members having means including a member extending beyond and about a side and marginal edge of said reference member, said member having a portion Tpassing through said reference member to secure the same thereto for detachably retainin g another reference member upon a surface thereof, and a reference member mounted upon each of said first-mentioned members 'i with the side ed es and one mar inal ed e of the second-mentioned member coinciding with the corresponding side edges and a marginal edge of the first-mentioned reference member.

2. In an index or file, the combination of a reference member having means including a member extending beyond and about a side and marginal edge of said reference member, said member having a portion passing through said reference member to secure the same thereto to retain another reference mem ber upon the surface thereof and a second reference member mounted upon the first, having the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding side edges and a marginal edge of the first.

3. The combination of a hinged reference member, having means including a member extending beyond and about a side and marginal ed e of said reference member, said member having a portion passing through said reference member to secure the same thereto to retain another reference member upon a surface thereof, and a second reference member mounted upon the first having the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding side edges and a marginal edge of the first.

4. The combination of a hinged reference member, having means including a member extending beyond and about a side and marginal edge of said reference member. said member having a portion passing through said reference member to secure the same thereto to retain. another reference member upon a surface of the swinging portion thereof, and a second reference member mounted upon the swinging portion of the first, having the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding side edges and a marginal edge of the swinging portion of the firstunentioned reference member.

5. The combination of a reference member, having a support-engaging portion and a flap portion, means upon the flap portion including a member extending beyiond and about a side and marginal edge of said reference member, said member having a portion passing through said reference member tov secure the same thereto for engaging another reference member to retain the same thereon, and a second. reference member mounted upon said flap portion having the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding side edges of the marginal edge of said flap portion.

6. In an ind-ex or file, the combination of a series of reference members each having a support-engaging portion and a flap portion, said reference members adapted to be secured upon a carrying frame by said support en gaging portion, with a margin of said flap portion exposed to view, means upon the flap portion including a member extending beyond and about a side and marginal edge of said reference member, said member having a portion passing through said reference member to secure the same thereto for engaging another reference member to retain the same thereon, and a second reference member tending across one of said corners, and

mounted upon the flap portion having the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding side edges and a marginal edge of said flap portion.

7. The combination of a hinged reference member, having means including a member extending beyond and about a side and marginal edge of said reference member, said member having a portion passing through said reference member to secure the same thereto to retain another reference member upon a surface of the swinging portion thereof, and a second reference member mounted upon said swinging portion with the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding side edges and the free edge of said swinging portion.

8. In an index or file, a pair of reference members superimposed relation, with the side edges and a marginal edge of one coinciding with the corresponding edges of the other, and means secured to one adapted to detachably retain the other thereon, said means comprising a wire staple.

9. In an index or file, a reference member holder of the hinged type having means secured to a corner of the free margin of said holder for engaging a corner of the reference member, said means comprising a staple having a portion extending angularly across the corner and beyond the side and marginal edges of said holder.

10. In an index or file, a reference member holder including in its structure a swingable portion, having means secured to the adjacent corners of the free margin. thereof, said means comprising a pair of staples each having a portion thereof extending across one of said corners to and beyond the adjacent side and marginal edges of said holder and other portions of said staple then extending over a surface of said holder portion, thus said staple being adapted to embrace a corner of a superimposed reference member, whereby the side and marginal edges of the reference member will coincide with the cor responding edges of the holding portion.

11. In an index or file, a reference member holder including in its structure a swingable portion, having means secured to the adjacent corners of the free margin thereof for engaging the corresponding corner of a reference member, said means comprising a pair of staples each having a portion thereof exmeans adjacent the other margin of the swingable portion of said holder for engaging the opposite edge of said reference member.

12. A reference member for an index or file, having card-holding means secured thereon whereby said reference member is capable of detachably supporting a card, said means comprising a staple having a portion thereof extending across a corner of said reference member and beyond the adjacent edges and over a surface thereof, the ends of said staple extending through said reference member and being bent over the surface of said member.

13. In an index or file, means to retain a card superimposed upon another card comprising a pair of members extending diagonally across adjacent corners of one card and passing through the material of said card, said members being adapted to embrace the corresponding corners of the other card to retain the same in position upon the firstientioned card whereby the side edges of both cards will coincide.

14:. In an index or file, means to retain a card superimposed upon another card comprising a pair of members extending diagonally across adjacent corners of one card and passing through the material of said card, said members being adapted to embrace the corresponding corners of the other card to retain the same in position upon the first-mentioned card whereby the side edges of both cards will coincide, and a tongue struck out from the first-mentioned card adapted to engage the edge of said second-mentioned card opposite the corners engaged by said members.

15. In an index or file, a reference member holder of the hinged type having means secured to adjacent corners of the free margin of said holder for engaging the corners of the reference member, said means each comprising a member having a portion extending angularly across a corner, other portions extending beyond the side and marginal edges of said holder and passing through the material of said holder.

16. In an index or file, a reference member holder of the hinged type having means secured to adjacent corners of the free margin of said holder for engaging the corners of the reference member, each of said means comprising a member having a portion extending angularly across a corner, and other portions extending beyond the side and marginal edges at the corner and then returning back over a surface of said holder and passing through the material of said holder.

17. The combination of two reference members and means for connecting said members together in superimposed relation, said means including a wire staple secured to one of said reference members and embracing a corner of the other.

18. In an index or file, two reference mem bers in superposition, and means to connect said members together, comprising a springable member adapted to embrace a corner of one by extending about the side and marginal edges thereof and beyond the corresponding edges and passing through the material of the other.

19. In an index or file a staple adapted to be applied to a card-like member for securing another card-like member thereto, comprising a base portion having portions extending substantially at right angles there to, and terminating in end portions extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rightangular portions.

20. In an index or file, a card-like member, and another card-like member superimposed thereon, means to connect said members together, comprising a staple-like structure adapted to embrace a corner of one, to extend beyond the marginal and side edges of and under and through the other card-like member.

21. The combination of a reference memher having a support-engaging portion and a flap portion, means upon the flap portion for engaging another reference member to retain the same thereon with the side edges and one marginal edge thereof coinciding with the corresponding edges of said flap portion, said means comprising a wire staple secured to said flap portion and adapted to embrace a corner of the other reference member.

22. A reference member for an index or file, having a card-holding means secured thereon whereby said reference member is capable of detachably supporting a card, said means comprising a member having a portion thereof extending across a corner of said reference member toward adjacent edges and over a surface thereof, the ends of said member extending through said reference member and being bent over the surface of said member and extending toward said adjacent side edges thereof.

23. A reference member for an index or file, having a card-holding means secured thereon whereby said reference member is capable of detachably supporting a card, said means comprising a member having a portion thereof extending across a corner of said reference member toward adjacent edges and over a surface thereof, the ends of said member extending through said reference memher and being bent over the surface of said member and extending toward the portion extending across the corner of said reference member.

24. A reference member for an index or file, having a card-holding means secured thereon whereby said reference member is capable of detachably supporting a card on each side thereof, said means comprising members having portions thereof extending across the corners of said reference member toward adjacent edges and over opposite surfaces thereof, the ends of said members extending through said reference member and being bent over the surface of said reference member.

25. A reference member for an index or file, having a card-holding means secured thereon whereby said reference member is capable of detachably supporting a card on each side thereof with the side edges and one marginal edge in coincident relation, said means comprising members having portions thereof extending across the corners of said reference member toward adjacent edges and over opposite surfaces thereof, the ends of said members extending through said reference member and being bent over the surface of said reference member.

26. In an index or file, the combination of a series of reference members adapted to be secured upon a carrying frame in overlapped relation, with a margin of each exposed to view, pocket-forming members mounted on the corners of said members at the ends of the free marginal portion thereof, and forming pockets on opposite sides of said reference members, and record cards adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of said reference members with the corners supported in said pockets.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of Feb, 1924:.

WILLIAM H. DAY. 

